Tenth anniversary of the beatification

On 28th October, 2007, Cardinal Saraiva Martins beatified 498 martyrs who had died in Spain during the 20th century, in St. Peter’s Square. Among them were 32 Discalced Carmelites, including Fr. Eufrasio of the Child Jesus or Fr. Eusebius of the Child Jesus who led the group of 15 martyrs in Toledo, among whom was Fr. Tirso of Jesus Mary.

At 18.00 on 28th October last, on account of the above mentioned beatification, a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the church of the Discalced Carmelites of Toledo, Spain. It was presided by the Postulator General of the Order, Fr. Romano Gambalunga, OCD.

Prior to this, the relics of the martyrs had been taken in procession through the streets of Toledo, accompanied by 16 palms and 16 candles which were lit in the church entrance in memory of each one of the martyrs. In the morning, Fr. José Vicente Rodríguez, OCD, Vice-Postulator of the Cause, gave a conference entitled: ‘A community of martyrs’.

Family members of the martyrs, from the monastery in Toledo, took part in the Mass and a chasuble donated by one of the families and made by the Discalced Carmelites nuns of Consuegra, was seen for the first time, as was, a glass window made by Laura Gutiérrez, with the words which Fr. Tirso spoke to her family just before being martyred: ‘Forgive, bless and love to all’.